Dressmaker&#39;s measuring device



Aug. 8, 1953 M. c. NICHOLSON 2,648,907

DRESSMAKERS MEASURING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1951 INVENTOR.

, max/on/cw/a azs m ah l? p 5W- Arramvz rs Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRESSMAKERS MEASURING DEVICE Marion 0. Nicholson, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 1, 1951, Serial No. 249,167

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for accurately gauging and leveling skirts at the desired height above the floor and particularly to such a device which is designed to assist the home dressmaker in setting the skirt length at the. desired level.

An important object of the invention is to provide a conveniently and quickly operable device for dressmakers for setting the skirt length at the desired height above the floor and one which enables the operation to be performed by one person without any outside assistance. Another important object of the invention is to provide a device for measuring and indicating the desired skirt level which combines in novel association a frame similar to a garment hanger, a measuring stick, and a clamping mechanism for gripping the waist portion of a skirt or dress. A further object of the invention is to provide a skirt measuring device of this character which is designed for economical production and for long usage.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, the device is preferably constructed to provide a main frame exhibiting a configuration generally like that of a conventional garment hanger. Associated with the frame is an elongated member or stick which is suspended from the frame and carries means for indicating the selected or desired skirt length. In addition, the device includes a clamping mechanism arranged to grip the waist portion of a skirt or dress and hold the same in suspended relation to the hanger. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the measuring stick is mounted for transverse bodily movement relative to the hanger for the full width of the skirt and while suspended from the hanger.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features will become more fully apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention showing a skirt attached thereto and initially prepared for the measuring and setting operation,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device in Fig. 1 showing a locking element for the skirt clamping mechanism in released position,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the mounting arrangement for one end of the clamping bars of the device,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modification of the invention showing a different form of hanger and clamping bar arrangement,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the clamping mechanism of the modification of Fig. 5 and showing the clamping bars in the act of engaging the waist portion of a full length dress,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a further modification of the invention, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and broken away intermediate its ends to foreshorten its overall length.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, the device includes a main frame generally indicated at ill and preferably formed of wire and assuming the formation of a conventional garment or coat hanger. The wire frame includes two similar upwardly and inwardly inclined wire sections l2l2 which are joined at their higher ends to form a hook It in the conventional manner. The lower ends of the wire sections l2-l2 are integrally joined to two short vertical sections [6-46. The latter are integrally connected together by a wire section I8 forming a cross rod which extends horizontally and spans the. distance between the vertical sections. It is to be noted that the cross rod is spaced from the inclined wire sections l2-l2 and the hook I4 and that the entire area encompassed by the frame is greater than the width of the waist portion of a skirt or dress. Preferably the cross rod is offset laterally to the plane of the inclined and vertical wire sections l2-I2 and l6i6 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This may be accomplished by providing a short lateral bend at the lower end of each vertical wire section 16. In use the wire frame it is suspended from a fixed support by hooking the upper end portion l4 over a rod or peg 2D.

In novel association with the garment hanger frame is an elongated gauging or measuring member 22 for indicating the level at which it is desired to terminate the skirt length. Member 22 is suspended from the frame and preferably has a longitudinal dimension slightly greater than the length of any skirt for which the device is intended. The member 22 is preferably formed of relatively rigid material, such as metal, wood, or plastic, and in use serves as a gauging or measuring stick for indicating the desired level of the lower edge of a skirt suspended from the hanger frame.

. an important feature of the invention is the provision for bodily moving the measuring stick 22 transversely of the hanger frame and while suspended therefrom. As best shown in Figs. 2 and l, the upper end of the measuring stick is slidably connected to the cross rod I 8 by bending the end section of the stick into a hook 24. The hook loosely fits the cross rod and permits the stick to travel from one end of the rod to the other end while suspended therefrom.

Also in novel association with the hanger frame is a clamping mechanism for gripping the waist portion of a skirt or dress for suspending the balance of the skirt below the cross rod. The clamping mechanism is herein shown as composed of two members or bars 25 and 28 arranged inv pposed relationship to one another and capable of being brought up into juxtaposed position to clamp the upper end of a skirt therebetween. Either one or both of the clamping bars may be movably mounted relative to the frame to permit separation thereof for the insertion of the garment therebetween. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the two clamping bars extend across the space between the vertical wire sections [6-46 and intermediate the hook it andthe cross rod l8.

As illustrated herein, one of the clamping bars, such as 26, is fixed to the hanger frame against movement relative thereto. This maybe accomplished if the bar is made of metal by spot welding the opposite ends to the vertical wire sections [-46 of the frame. Any other suitable means may be provided for rigidly connecting the bar to the frame. The other clamping bar 28 is laterally movable relative to the fixed bar 25 and is preferably hinged at one end to the hanger frame for this purpose. One end or the bar 28 is provided with a reduced extension or tongue which is loosely wrapped or curled around one of the vertical wire sections, as shown in Fig. 3. To accommodate the tongue 30, the same endof the other clamping bar 28 is provided. with a central opening 32 through which the tongue extends. The opposite end of the bar 28 being free, it is evident that the bar may be swung about its hinged mounting laterally of the hanger frame and to and from the fixed end bar 25, as'shown by the dotted and full line positions of the bar in Fig. 3. When the two bars are brought substantially together they are capable of gripping the waist portion of a skirt or dress therebetween to hold the skirt in suspension.

Means is provided for releasably locking the bars 25 and 2c in clam-ping position. such means is herein shown as a channel-shaped member or clip 3d arranged to straddle the two bars and hold them in close proximity to one another. Although the clip may constitute a separate element of the frame assembly, it is herein shown as provided with an extension 36 which is pivotally connected by a pin 38 to the fixed bar 25. The pivotal connection is so arranged that the clip may be raised to free the movable bar 28 for swinging movement and lowered to grip and hold the two bars in clamping position.

In the use of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, a small portion of the bottom end of a skirt or dress is turned up to the desired height and temporarily held in this position by a pin. Such a skirt is indicated at 58 in Fig. l and its turned up portion is identified by reference character 42. The skirt or dress may be worn at the time the fold 42 is formed. Thereafter, with the lower end of the folded portion 42 indicating the desired height above the floor, the dress is suspended from the hanger by the clamping bars. The waist portion of the skirt or full length dress, Whichever the case may be, is inserted between the clamping bars while the latter are separated from one another. Before the bars are brought to final clamping position, the skirt is adjusted so as to project an equal amount of material of the waist portion above the clamping bars. The upper edges of the two bars extend horizontally and parallel to the cross rod is and serve as a straight edge guide for properly positioning the skirt on the hanger. While the skirt is suspended by the clamping bars, the measuring stick 22 is moved along the cross rod 18 to a position opposite to the turned up portion 52 and the level of the fold of. the turned up portion is noted on the stick. To facilitate this operation, the measuring stick is provided with longitudinally spaced apart markings- 44 which may be a scale indicating fractions of an inch. Following this, the measuring stick is moved to and fro on the cross rod to accurately indicate the level to which the balance of the lower end of the skirt should be turned up.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the hanger frame is generally indicated at 26 and is shown as formed out of thin fiat stock, such as wood, metal or plastic. The frame comprises two upwardly and inwardly inclined sections 48E8 joined at their upper ends to form a hook E8. The lower ends of the inclined sections 48-48 are connected by a horizontal section 52 which is relatively wide accompared with the cross wire la and serves as one of the clamping members as hereinafter. described. A frame member 54 is pivotally connected by a piano type hinge 5 6 to one side edge of the hanger frame 36 for lateral swinging movement relative thereto. The frame member 5A. and the horizontal section 52 of the hanger cooperate to form the clamping bars of the modified form of the invention and are capable of being brought up into juxtaposed substantially parallel relation as shown in Fig. 6 for gripping the waist portion of a skirt or dress therebetween. The clamping bars are releasably locked in clamped. position by any suitable means for that purpose such as the eccentrically mounted rotary catch or knob 56 carried by the hanger frame 45 on the end thereof opposite to the hinge 56. The knob 56 is predisposed on the hanger frame so that when rotated to the depending position shown in Fig. 6 it will overlie the frame member 54 and hold the same alongside of the horizontal section 52. The knob is shown as pivotally mounted on a laterally projecting fastening element or screw =58 and spaced from the hanger frame suificient to accomplish its purpose by means of a spacer ring 63.

The frame member or bar 54 is made wider than the cooperating clamping bar 52 of the hanger frame and is mounted by its hinged connection so that its lower marginal portion extends downwardly below the lower edge of. the clamping bar 52. The lower marginal portion of the bar 54 is provided with a horizontally extending slot 62 running substantially the full length thereof and providing a narrow strip section 64 which serves as the cross rod of this embodiment of the invention.

Suspended from the narrow strip section 6d of the fixed clamping bar 54 is a measuring stick 66 similar in construction and function as the measuring stick 22 previously described. The upper end of the measuring stick is bent or folded over the strip 64 as indicated at 68 for slidable connection thereto. The measuring stick 6B is thus capable of travel along the strip section 64 of the hinged clamping bar for the length of the slot 62. Either a dress or skirt is suspended from the clamping bars 52 and 5 4 in the same manner as skirt 40 previously described. Figs. 6 and '1 show a full length dress in dotted outline having the waist portion arranged to be gripped by the clamping bars for suspending the skirt portion therefrom. The upper portion of the dress is shown as folded over the clamping bar 54 and hanging down the front side thereof. To ofiset the measuring stick 65 from the plane of the skirt, the strip section 64 from which it is suspended may be made thinner than the balance of the clamping bar 54 as shown in Fig. 6. This willbring the measuring stick within the plane of the clamping bar 54 and immediately alongside of the skirt suspended from the clamping bars. The measuring stick may be provided with longitudinally spaced markings to aid in accurately folding and stitching the lower end of the skirt at the desired level.

The hanger frame of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is generally like that of Figs. 1 to 4 except that the vertical end sections l6-l6 of the latter are extended downwardly for a considerable distance beyond the clamping bars. The hanger frame of Figs. 7 and 8 is generally indicated at 10 and includes the inwardly inclined wire sections 12-12 joined to form a hook 14 at their upper ends and provided at their opposite ends with vertically depending sections 16-16. The depending sections 1616 constitute vertical guide rods and extend downwardly for a considerable distance below their connection to the inclined sections 1212 and for a distance at least equal to the usual lengths of skirts to be measured on the device.

A pair of clamping bars similar to the bars 26 and 28 extend across the frame 16 and are connected to the upper end sections of the guide rods 16-16 in the same manner as shown in I Fig. 3. The fixed bar of the clamping mechanism is indicated at 18. The movable or hinged clamping bar is not shown in Fig. 7 for the reason that it is disposed immediately behind the bar 18. The tongue extension forming the hinged mounting for the movable clamping bar is indicated at 86. A releasable locking clip for the two clamping bars is indicated at 82 and is constructed and operated similarly to the clip 34 previously described. If the guide rods 16-16 are initially formed of round wire stock, it is preferred to flatten all portions of the rods below the clamping bars to impart a rectangular cross section thereto such as shown in Fig. 8.

The two vertical guide rods 16-16 carry means for indicating the desired length of a skirt to be measured. This means comprises a cross member 84 connected to the two rods 1616 and capable of up and down movement therealong. The cross member 34 is constructed as shown in Fig. 8 to overlie one side of the vertical guide rods 1616. It is releasably held in adjusted position on the guide rods in any suitable manner such as by the provision of spring elements 86-86 shown in Fig. 8. These spring elements are carried by the cross member and overlap the sides of the guide rods 16--16 opposite to which the cross member extends. The yielding pressure exerted by these spring elements releasably holds the cross member in adjusted position along the vertical rods 1616. Suitable longitudinally spaced markings are provided on the guide rods 16-46 for indicating the desired height of the cross member 84 and to assure that it is in proper horizontal position at the time the measurements are made.

The device of 'Figs. 7 and 8 is used similarly to those previously described. The waist portion of a skirt or full length dress is gripped by the clamping bars and is suspended therefrom between the guide rods 1616 of the frame. The cross member is adjusted up and down until it is positioned at the level of the fold line of the up turned portion of the skirt. Thereafter, the balance of the bottom end portion of the skirt may be turned up until it aligns accurately with the cross member 84 and then secured by stitching or otherwise at this desired level.

What I claim is:

1. A dressmakers measuring device including, in combination, a garment hanger having a horizontally extending cross rod, a measuring stick, means suspending one end of the stick from the cross rod of the hanger and providing travel of the stick along the rod while suspended therefrom, and means carried by the hanger for supporting a garment to the hanger below the cross rod so that the stick may be shifted along the rod transversely over the garment.

2. A dressmakers measuring device including, in combination, a garment hanger having a hook for suspension from a support and further having a cross rod extending horizontally and in spaced relation below the hook, an elongated measuring stick, means suspending one end of the stick from the cross rod of the hanger and providing travel of the stick along the rod while suspended therefrom, and a pair of opposed clamping bars carried by the hanger between the hook and the cross rod and disposed generally parallel to the cross rod and arranged to clamp a garment to the hanger in suspended relation with respect to the cross rod.

3. A skirt length measuring device comprising, in combination, a hanger provided with a horizontal extending cross rod section, an elongated relatively rigid member provided with longitudinally spaced apart markings, means suspending one end of the member from the cross rod and providing for travel of the member substantially the full length of the cross rod and while suspended therefrom, and a pair of opposed horizontally extending clamping bars carried by the hanger disposed above and in substantial parallelism with the cross rod and extending substantially the full length of the cross rod, at least one of said clamping bars being mounted for movement relative to the hanger and toward and away from the other clamping bar, said bars adapted when brought together to clamp the upper portion of a skirt and hang the skirt therefrom in suspended relation to the cross rod, said cross rod being laterally offset the space between said bars.

4. A skirt length measuring device comprising, in combination, a hanger having a hook at the upper end thereof for suspending the hanger from a support and further provided with a horizontal extending section spaced below the hook and forming a cross rod, an elongated relatively rigid member provided with longitudinally spaced apart markings, means suspending one end of the member from the cross rod and providing for travel of the member substantially the full length of the cross rod and while suspended therefrom, a pair of opposed horizontally extending clamping bars carried by the hanger disposed between the hook and the cross rod and extending substantially the full length of the cross rod, one of said clamping bars being supported for swinging movement laterally of the hanger toward and away from the other clamping bar, and means for releasably locking the swingable bar alongside of the other bar to grip the upper portion of askirt therebetween and to hang the skirt in suspended relation to the cross rod, said; cross rod being disposed substantially below one. of the, clamping bars and within the plane thereof laterally offset the plane of the other clamping: bar.

5. A dressmakers measuring device comprising, combination, a hanger having a hook for suspension from a. support, a. pair opposed horizontally extending clamping bars carried by the hanger in spaced, relation below the hook, said.- clamping. bars being similar in length and longer than; the width of the waist portion of a shirt, at least one end of said clamping bars being mounted for movement relative to the hanger and toward and. away from the other clamping bar, said. bars being operable when brought together to clamp the waist portion of a skirt therebetween and to suspend the balance of the skirt therefrom, an elongated relatively rigid member having longitudinally spaced apart markings thereon, and means suspending, one end; of. the member from the hanger in vertically depending relation to the clamping bars, said member being slidable over said means transversely of: a skirt clamped between said, memher.

6. A skirt length measuring device comprising, in combination, aframe encompassing an areazgreater than the width of the; waist portion of. a skirt, a pair of horizontally extending clamping bars carried by the frame and spanning the area. encompassed. thereby, said bars being arranged in opposing relation to one another and being separable to admit the waist portion'. of a. skirt therebetween and when brought together to clamp the skirt waist. so that the balance of the skirt depends downwardly therefrom, and an elongated member depending downwardly from the frame and below the clamping bars, and means on the member for indicating the desired skirt length.

7. A skirt length measuring device comprising, in combination, a hanger" frame having a hook at its. top and exhibiting ahorizontal cross member at its b'ottom,. a supplemental frame exhibitingt a pair of vertically spaced substantial- 1y parallel horizontal. cross members, said supp-lementa-lfralne hinged at one side toone side of the hanger frame toswing toward or away from the hanger frame and. to hold its upper cross member against the horizontal cross member of the hanger frame to clamp a skirt therebetween-and withv the lower cross member of the supplemental. frame disposed below said clamping cross members, a measuring stick supported upon: the lower cross member of the supplemental frame for slidable movement thereover transversely of a skirt. clamped between the upper cross member. of the supplemental frame and the complementary cross member of. the hanger frame.

8. A skirt length measuring device as defined in claim numbered 7 v characterized in that. the lower cross. member ot the supplemental frame is offset outwardly the inner clamping face of the upper cross member or the supplemental frame whereby the; measuring stick is supported substantially within. the plane of the upper cross member of the supplemental rra-me ofiset the plane of the" space between the skirt clamping members.

MARION C. NIGHOLSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED SEE-ATES PATEN'ISL Number Name Date 519,090 Newcomb May 1 1894 629,025 Bl'uthenthal' July 18 1899 748,17i Dunlea Dec. 29, 1903 1,077,460 Duncan Nov. 4, 1913 1,248,035 Taylor Nov. 27, 1917 1,912,691 Campbell June 6, 1933 1,933,438 Kelley Oct. 31', 1933 2,104,305 Marble Jan. 4:, 1938 2,135,846 Rob'erti Nov. 8', 1938 2,295,989 Fitzgerald Sept. 15, 1942 2,341,880 Pollock Feb. 15 1944 

